OPOTIKI'S “GRAND OLD LADY.”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10735, 5 November 1928, Page 2

OPOTIKI'S “GRAND OLD LADY.”

MRS. REECE CELEBRATES 101st, BIRTHDAY.

(Special to the Times.) OPOTIKI, Nov, 3

Mrs. Martha Reece, the Grand Old Lady or Opotiki. is celebrating her one hundred and first birthday to-day in beautiful sunshine, which seems to have, had the eti'ect of rejuvenation, as til,; old lady looks younger than when your representative called on her on her last birthday. Mrs. Reece retains a wonderful memorv and. in speaking to the Mayor'(Mr (J. S. Moody) this morning,' said: “I well remember the day you were born, my lad. which, is about 55 years ago." Mrs. Reece is very pleased with the many congratulations she has received from all quarters, and wishes to acknowledge how kind the people have been to her. Although confined to bed with rheumatism, she retains all her other faculties Visitors to-day included the Mayor, also the town clerk (Mr. C. Fleming) and Mr. H. R. Hogg (chairman of the Hospital Board). The old lady gave interesting remiuisences of the early days in Opotiki, when, as she says, times were very different from now. Mrs. Reece can claim to be one of the earliest Opotiki settlers, having come to New Zealand in 1868 by the ship Nimrod, accompanied by her late husband Mr. G. Reece. They settled in Opotiki in 1870. where they brought/ up tlieir family of two sons. Messrs. AY. and E. Reece, and three daughters Mrs. R. Smith fOnelnmga), Mrs Jane Butler and Mrs. H. ,Ji. Webb, both of Opotiki There are also 33 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. A very large number of visitors have called to-day, and sheaves of telegrams from all over New Zealand have been received. Opot'ki’s other old veteran. Dr. Reid, who will be 96 next month, was unable to call this year, owing to having a cold, hut iscnt his best wishes.